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Change your registration category

How to change your registration category if you're a veterinary surgeon whose circumstances have changed. 

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How to change your category

You can change your category by logging in to My Account and completing the change of category declaration form. You may also need to pay a fee.

If you’re changing your category as part of annual renewal, you should send us your application by 30 April. If your change of category request is received after this date – but before the annual renewal period ends on 31 May – you may have to pay an additional fee.

We aim to complete your change of category request within three working days of receiving all necessary documentation and payment. Unfortunately, we can’t proceed with your request until we have received these.

Changing to 'Practising outside the UK'

Veterinary surgeons who are working outside the UK can change their category to 'Practising outside the UK'.

You can request this change via My Account.

Changing to 'UK Practising'

If you want to return to practise in the UK and are currently listed as:

  • 'Practising outside the UK', or
  • 'Non-practising'

you need to change your registration category to 'UK Practising'.

What counts as 'practising'?

According to the regulations, 'practise or practising' means:

  • practising veterinary surgery, or
  • engaging in any professional activity as a veterinary surgeon

whether or not for remuneration.

This includes undertaking acts of veterinary surgery or any activity that is the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon. Activities that are the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon may include non-clinical work undertaken in the capacity of a veterinary surgeon. For example, it could include work done as part of employment by government departments or agencies, in academia, at research councils, or in industry and commerce. In other words, 'practising' is not limited to those in clinical practice, but includes veterinary surgeons using their professional qualification where the role is only open to those with a veterinary medicine qualification.

How to change your category to 'UK Practising'

'Non-practising' or 'Practising outside the UK' for less than 12 months

If you’ve been 'Non-practising' or 'Practising outside the UK' for less than 12 months you need to:

  • fill in a change of category declaration form on My Account, and
  • provide a copy of your passport.

'Practising outside the UK' for more than 12 months

If you’ve been 'Practising outside the UK' for more than 12 months, you need to:

  • fill in a change of category declaration form on My Account,
  • provide a copy of your passport, and
  • provide a letter of good standing.

Your letter of good standing must come from the regulatory authority you have been registered with while practising abroad. Please check with your registered authority how long it will take to receive the letter of good standing.

'Non-practising' for more than 12 months

If you’ve been 'Non-practising' for more than 12 months you need to:

  • fill in a change of category declaration form on My Account,
  • provide a copy of your passport, and
  • provide a sworn declaration.

A sworn declaration is a statement that needs to be signed and stamped by one of the following:

  • Solicitor
  • Public notary
  • Commissioner of Oaths
  • Barrister
Sworn declaration template

This sworn declaration or affidavit should state:

  1. that you graduated from [name of university] with a [name of primary veterinary qualification] on [DD/MM/YYYY];
  2. the reason why you are not currently registered with a regulatory authority in your own country or elsewhere outside the UK;
  3. that you have not been found guilty of serious professional misconduct or employment disciplinary proceedings in the UK or elsewhere;
  4. and whether or not you have been convicted of any criminal offences in the UK or elsewhere. If you have been convicted of any criminal offence/s in the UK or elsewhere, the declaration should state the criminal offence/s of which you have been convicted.

This declaration or affidavit must be made by you on oath, or in solemn form, before a competent judicial or administrative authority or notary public. In the UK, this could be a solicitor, notary public, legal executive, barrister or Commissioner for Oaths.

The declaration must be said out loud, on oath or in solemn form, in front of the official as listed above. It must be signed by you and also countersigned by this official and include their full name, profession and full address. The declaration also needs to show the date you made your declaration on.

For more information, please contact the Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or [email protected].

Changing to 'Non-practising'

If you’re not practising, undertaking any acts of veterinary surgery or any activity that is the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or overseas, whether or not for remuneration, you can change your status to 'non-practising'. You can request this change via My Account.

'Non-practising' registrants must not undertake any acts of veterinary surgery or any activity that is the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon, including signing any form of veterinary certification, including vaccination certificates or prescriptions.

Activities that are the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon may include non-clinical work undertaken in the capacity as a veterinary surgeon. For example, it could include work done as part of employment by government departments or agencies, in academia, at research councils, or in industry and commerce. In other words, 'practising' is not limited to those in clinical practice, but includes veterinary surgeons using their professional qualification where the role is only open to those with a veterinary medicine qualification.

'Non-practising' registrants may only undertake activities that may be done by a layperson, for example, those under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Returning to practise

If you remain 'Non-practising' for 12 months or longer, you will need to produce confirmation of your good standing before you are able to change your category to practising. This should come from the competent authority or licensing board of the country where you are currently, or were most recently, practising.

A certified translation of the certificate (or letter) will also be required if it is not issued in English.

Change of category fees

Depending on the registration category you’re changing to, you may need to pay an additional fee. You may also be entitled to credit to your account for the registration fee you have already paid.

Changing your category during annual renewal

You must send us your change of category application by 1 April.

If we don't receive your full fee by 1 May, your name will be removed from the Register.

To restore your name to the Register, you will need to pay a restoration fee, in addition to your registration fee. During this time you will not be able to use the postnominal MRCVS. 'UK Practising' veterinary surgeons will need to cease practising immediately.

Further guidance

Which registration category is right for me? 

Our flowchart will guide you through the process of determining your registration category. 

Flowchart: Which registration category is right for me? 

View a text version of this flowchart. 

Practising and registration scenarios

If your circumstances are not straightforward, our tailored guidance addresses a variety of potential scenarios that may apply to your situation. This includes:  

  • I am on sabbatical
  • I demonstrate skills in a clinical skills lab 
  • I work at a veterinary school outside of the UK 

Read our practising and registration scenarios.

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